We did a whirlwind tour of New York City last week. The six-month cohort we’re part of met there (who gets a group of pastors together the week before Christmas?!). Well, they promised Christmas magic, and New York City delivered. I don’t just mean Rockefeller Center or the Disneyland-style presentation on Saks 5th Ave. The […]
Peace on earth
I have led 10 pilgrimages to the Holy Land. As you might imagine, much of that ancient land remains unchanged from trip to trip. After all, the place has existed for millennia; what difference could a few years make? But there IS one place that is very different from when I first visited in 1984. […]
Chapel Hill Port Orchard: big announcement!
We’re delighted to share the news that Pastor Larry will now fully dedicate his ministry work to Port Orchard! The timing reflects our shared call to serve Jesus together in Kitsap County and the local congregation’s readiness to receive additional ministry staff support. You’re accustomed to seeing Larry on Sundays and team nights, but you […]
The time is now
A message from Pastor Larry: Three years ago, Megan and I went to a church-planting assessment in Indianapolis. Being assessed as a church-planter is no joke; the process is meant to expose potential planters to stressful and challenging scenarios and experiences and see how they bear up under it, all under the watchful gaze of […]
Big news, Chapel Hill!
In consultation with the Session, we’ve decided that starting Sunday, January 9, our classic worship service will be at 9:00 am and our modern worship service will be at 10:30 am (with nursery and children’s ministry at BOTH service times…yes!). There are a few reasons we’re making this change: the first is resources. Our services require a ton of teams: worship team, welcome team, tech team, security team, and kids’ ministry team, to name a […]
Do I really need more lights?
Spur of the moment—the time was set aside for sermon preparation, but I wrote this instead. It made sense, given all the questions swirling in my brain at that moment: “Can I spend $$$$$$$ on a remodel? It’s just supply and demand, right?” “How reasonable it is to buy four more strands of Christmas lights?”; […]
We really missed you!
“Welcome back, Pastor Mark. We really missed you…but we really didn’t miss you!” That was one of the welcomes I received when Cyndi and I returned from our sabbatical. And I understand…and am DELIGHTED…with what I know they meant by that. They love me and are glad to see me. AND…they are telling me that […]
How to grow in prayer
Every year I set myself some goals, and one of my goals for 2021 was to read 12 books on prayer. I had a real desire to go beyond the typical prayer list and grow in greater intimacy and depth with my relationship to the Father through prayer. Last week, I completed book 12 of […]
Take us with you
Earlier this year, I walked off the stage at our modern service and into the band room. As I did, I took out my headphones (you wouldn’t believe what the band hears in our headphones when we are leading worship—check out this video if you want to know), and I began to hear music playing […]
You’ve got two options!
Starting this Sunday, Chapel Hill Port Orchard is worshipping at 9:30 AND 11:00am! Why would a small church add a second service? Because we are a church for our neighbors, seeking God’s shalom in our neighborhoods… And we’ve run out of room for our neighbors! May this never be! This Sunday we had two or three seats […]